The ancestors of the name Hardewike date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Hardewike family lived in the village of Hardwick near Ashton-cum-Aughton in the county of Yorkshire. The name was originally derived from the Old English word heordewic, when translated refers to the person who dwelled near a sheep farm.

Early Origins of the Hardewike family

The surname Hardewike was first found in Yorkshire. Some of the family held estates at Ault-Hucknall in Derbyshire in early times. "The manor of Hardwicke lies on the south side of the parish, and on the border of Nottinghamshire, from which it is separated by the river Meden or Mayden. It was granted by King John, in 1203, to Andrew de Beauchamp: the Hardwickes possessed it for six generations; and Elizabeth, daughter of John Hardwicke, Esq., brought it to Sir William Cavendish. The present Hall of Hardwicke was built by the Countess of Shrewsbury in the reign of Elizabeth; its situation is exceedingly picturesque and beautiful, standing in a fine park containing 621 acres of land, embellished with venerable oaks of most gigantic size. " [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

The hamlet of Kytes-Hardwick has an eponymous significance to the family. "The family of 'Herdwick,' a branch of the 'Hastangs,' took their name from this place, and some of them are supposed to have resided here. John de Herdwick, in the time of Edward III., held several offices of distinction, and in the first of Richard II. was one of the justices of the peace for the city of Coventry. Another John de Herdwick aided Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., at the battle of Bosworth-Field, and, it is said, by his good conduct as a guide to the army, got the earl the advantage in that fight 'of the ground, winde, and sunne.' The manor, at this period called Herdwick-Grembald, was conveyed by him, in marriage with one of his daughters, to William Dingley." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Early History of the Hardewike family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardewike research.Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1527, 1608, 1525, 1580 and 1599 are included under the topic Early Hardewike History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardewike Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hardewike are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Hardewike include: Hardwick, Hardwicke, Hartwick, Hartwicke and others.

Early Notables of the Hardewike family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Elizabeth Talbot (nee Hardwick) (1527-1608), Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick. She was daughter of John Hardwick of Derbyshire by his wife Elizabeth Leeke. The Hardwicks had arrived in Derbyshire from Sussex by the mid thirteenth century and farmed land... Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardewike Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hardewike family to the New World and Oceana

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hardewike or a variant listed above: William Hardwick settled in Jamaica in 1685; Francis Hardwick settled in Barbados in 1680; William Hardwick settled in St. Christopher in 1716; James Hardwicke settled in New England in 1762..

The Hardewike Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.